Sword of Dawnbreaker

”Ah, Lady Diana...” Hadrian couldn’t help but smile at the maidservant supervisor before him, ”No wonder I couldn’t sense who was outside... Is there something wrong? Don’t tell me it’s another new list...”

”Yes, Prince Hadrian, this is a new list,” Diana nodded faintly, stepping forward to place a magically sealed and solidified document on Hadrian’s desk, ”Based on the intelligence gathered by the Wanderers over the years, we’ve finally identified a group of individuals constantly sabotaging the new policies, or have been controlled by the Sect of the God of War, or have colluded with external forces—they still require interrogation, but the results shouldn’t vary much.”

”Lists, lists, new lists...” Hadrian took the document with a wry smile, quickly scanning through it, ”In fact, even without investigation, I know many of these people would appear here. For over a decade, they’ve tirelessly built their power, eroding the benefits brought by the new policies, this sabotaging behavior is almost out in the open...”

He paused halfway, lingering over a few names with a glance, his mouth twitching.

”Again secretly colluding with the Cecil Clan... Accepted cash or stock bribes, or caught in political traps... In the proud and glamorous ’upper society,’ there certainly are such people.”

”There are likely more lines behind these people—yet most of our investigations failed before they even began,” Diana said expressionlessly, ”Those who contact them are highly alert, all connections can be severed unilaterally, and these bought individuals are merely the end pawns, they don’t even know about each other’s existence, so ultimately we can only catch these insignificant spies.”

”I’ve heard of the Cecil Clan’s Intelligence Agency, and their ’intelligence operatives’... We’ve already had a few encounters with them,” Hadrian said indifferently, ”Indeed, a troublesome opponent, more challenging than the Highmountain Kingdom’s spies and the Shadow Brotherhood, and I believe what you said, these are just those exposed, there will be more who remain undisclosed—otherwise, they wouldn’t deserve the name of that Intelligence Agency.”

Saying this, he set the list aside.

”I’ll personally handle this part of the aristocratic list, every name here should fetch a good price at the negotiation table.”

Diana nodded, silently stepping back half a step: ”Then I’ll take my leave.”

In the next moment, her figure vanished from the room.

Hadrian blinked, looking at the still open door, muttered helplessly, ”At least close the door...”

His voice hadn’t faded when a familiar voice came from the corridor outside: ”That’s because she saw me coming this way.”

The next moment, a tall figure in a black court gown entered the study, smiling and nodding at Hadrian, ”Looks like you’re swamped with work.”

Hadrian glanced at the unexpected visitor, Matilda, surprised, ”Why are you showing up now? Shouldn’t you be dealing with those restless aristocratic representatives and the merchants who can’t remain calm?”

”Already dealt with—appeasing their emotions doesn’t take me more than two hours,” Matilda said casually, ”So I came to check on your situation, but it seems like your work here will take quite a long time to finish?”

”Lady Diana just brought me a new list,” Hadrian glanced up, the deep eyes inherited from Emperor Rosetta Augustus carrying a hint of fatigue and helplessness, ”All must be dealt with.”

Matilda’s gaze fell on Hadrian’s desk, then she shifted her view.

Hadrian glanced at his sister, seemingly casually, ”If you’re looking for information about Andresha, then I suggest you find Lady Diana—the Wanderers are far more informed in intelligence than I am. However, I doubt she’d have more detailed information either, as our West line intelligence network is hindered, and the Cecil Clan controls information related to Andresha very tightly. We only have some public information... She is alive, living well, the Cecil Clan hasn’t mistreated her and other defected soldiers. I think you can be somewhat at ease.”

”I know, even from the perspective of political interests, the Cecil Clan would treat ’important hostages’ like Andresha well, I’m not concerned about that,” Matilda said, couldn’t help but press her brows, then glared slightly at Hadrian, ”But I’m very displeased with your casual guessing of my thoughts.”